A reading from the letters of St Paul

    I want to teach you what I have been taught myself - Jesus died for our sins;

    he was buried and was raised to life on the third day, in accordance with the Scriptures.

        He appeared to Peter and then to the twelve.

        Next, he appeared to more than 500 of the brothers at the same time,

        some of whom are still alive, though some have died.

        Then he appeared to James, and then to all the Apostles.

        Last of all, he appeared to me. I am the least of the Apostles.

        Since I persecuted God's people, I hardly deserve the name, Apostle;

        but, by God's grace, that is what I am.

        May the Easter Garden remind us of the joy of your resurrection;

                                  may we rejoice because we can greet you here in the Mass 

        May the flame on the Paschal Candle remind us of the light of faith we received in Baptism;

                                  may this faith shine through our love

        As you brought peace to your worried followers at Easter,

                          may we bring your strength to the worried, the sick and the poor

        May your family here show we are 'Easter people'

                         by forgiving past wrongs and showing our love